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Athens News Agency: News in English, 10-11-11Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] PM urges int' media to tell the whole storyANA-MPA/Prime minister George Papandreou on Thursday urged international media to "tell the whole story" about what is happening in Greece, addressing the 2010 NEWSXCHANGE conference that opened in Athens, organised by international media organisations under the aegis of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) in collaboration with the Greek state broadcasting foundation ERT.In the past few months, the information media inflated the existing problems, while several of them engaged in unfair criticism of the Greek people, thus contributing to the creation of negative stereotypes, Papandreou said. "Your job is to be objective, and my job is to be frank with you," the Greek premier said after reviewing the steps taken by his government, and noted that in October 2009 (general elections) the Greek people had voted for change. "Our citizens say that we can make the changes in the country, and this gives new impetus to the government," Papandreou continued in reply to questions, stressing that "it is our commitment to change".ANA-MPA Papandreou also reiterated that the structural changes, which should have been made years ago, will continue, while noting that last Sunday's local administration elections had shown that Greek society realises the necessity of those changes in order for the country to survive. "Greece is changing quickly, and this will not stop," he added. More details on the subscriber's page of APE-MPE | Subscription request form [02] Mykonos voted Best European Island in Conde Nast Traveler awardsThe Greek island of Mykonos once again topped the list of best islands in Europe in the annual Conde Nast Traveler magazine awards for the year 2010.Mykonos won the Reader's Choice Award for Best European Island for the seventh consecutive year, and the award was presented to deputy culture and tourism minister George Nikitiadis on Wednesday night during a special ceremony at the London World Travel Market international exhibition. More details on the subscriber's page of APE-MPE | Subscription request form [03] Fiscal deficit 30 pct downANA-MPa/Greece's net regular budget revenues rose 3.7 pct in the January-October period, compared with the same period in 2009, slightly up from a 3.6 pct rise in the nine-month period this year, the Finance ministry said on Wednesday.This development mainly reflected a large recovery in VAT revenues, as a result of higher VAT rates and efforts to combat tax-evasion, while a negative impact on revenues had lower receipts from other taxes. However, the ministry expects tax revenues to rise in the last two months of 2010.ANA-MPa The fiscal deficit fell to 17.405 billion euros in the 10-month period, down from 24.833 billion euros in 2009, for a decline of around 30 pct down from a 32 pct target envisaged by an updated economic policy program. The annual target for the year envisages a decline of 36.9 pct. More details on the subscriber's page of APE-MPE | Subscription request form [04] Unemployment at 12.2pctANA-MPA/Greek unemployment jumped to 12.2 pct in August this year, with the number of unemployed people totaling 614,108, Hellenic Statistical Authority said on Thursday.The number of unemployed people rose by 160,402 compared with August 2009, an increase of 35.4 pct, while compared with July the number of unemployed people rose by 6,073, or 1.0 pct. The unemployment rate in August was the highest since January 2007, when the rate was 11.8 pct. The August figure surpassed the new budget's provision of 11.6 pct this year. Based on the 2011 budget draft plan, the unemployment rate will reach 14.5 pct in 2011, 15 pct in 2012 and 14.6 pct in 2013 as a result of the economic recession.ANA-MPa The statistics service said the number of employed people totaled 4,398,890 in August, while the financially non-active population totaled 4,98,958. The number of employed people fell by 165,356 in August compared with the same month in 2009 (a decline of 3.6 pct) and by 40,406 compared with July 2010 (a decline of 0.9 pct). More details on the subscriber's page of APE-MPE | Subscription request form [05] ASE opening: Big declineEquity prices were declining at the opening of trade on Thursday on the Athens Stock Exchange (ASE), with the basic share price index down 1.91 percent, standing at 1,481.34 points at 11:00 a.m, and turnover at 22.229 million euros.Individual sector indices were moving downwards, with the biggest gains in Chemicals, up 2.01 percent; and Travel and Recreation, up 1.04 percent. The biggest losses were in Banks, down 2.22 percent; and Food and Beverages, down 1.96 percent. The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks was down 0.99 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index was up 0.36 percent, and the FTSE/ASE-80 small cap index was up 0.07 percent. Of the stocks traded, 13 were up, 42 were down, and 27 were unchanged. More details on the subscriber's page of APE-MPE | Subscription request form Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |